A Call for Help – Typhoon Pablo
It has been about 5 years since the start of American in Davao. I have tried to write informative and helpful articles for my readers. I enjoy when followers of this site comment about some value they find with my posts.
I try, with time permitting to answer all requests and questions with as honest information. Recently I was going to let American in Davao close since it costs money to keep the registration and hosting current to have this site online....

As my readers know, 2 1/2 years ago I moved back to the US. I was invited to restart my life in a productive way.
I moved to Las Vegas and was employed as a Taxi driver. The shifts are 12 hours a day and it is hard to write about my life here working these hours.
I am doing well and received a promotion to Road Supervisor. With this I am on a 2 way radio where I can hear and talk to all the drivers on a Supervisor...

As of this writing, it is now ten days since Elena arrived in Las Vegas.
We have been to Walmart’s a few times buying things she wants for the apartment and herself. Elena enjoys how the store has so many types of items including a food market.
I asked her of her feelings about Las Vegas. Her comments are: “Las Vegas is WOW.” The streets are so wide with many lanes. Even when traffic is bad, it is better than in...

Elena finally arrived here Tuesday August 9th. Her flight arrived at 6:30pm and everything went fast through Immigration and Customs. At 7:15pm Elena walked out of the terminal and into my arms.
As we left the airport I drove Elena up Las Vegas Blvd to see the hotels, then we stopped at the super market to pick up necessities for the next morning. Wednesday morning we went to a mall for Elena to have her first...

It has been a long time since I wrote anything here. As I had apologized before many times, one reason is the long hours I work and on my free time catching up on chores and much missed needed sleep.
About me, I was working the 5:00am to 4:30pm shift, which I liked, since it is almost normal working hours. Then in June when they rebid all the shifts, I am now on a 3:00am to 2:30pm shift. I still have Thursdays and...

Well all, the time is getting close.
When we got her approval from the National Visa Center, we were told Elena had to bring two items with corrections. Then looking online at the the Travel.State.Gov site, we saw Elena needed to go in advance for her medical exam at St. Lukes.
To make sure everything was complete and forwarded to the Embassy by her interview, Elena flew to Manila the last week of April for her Medical...

I again apologize for the long space between updates and posts but not a lot had changed since last post. I work 12-hour days five days a week and if possible work on my days off. Friday March 18th, the weekend of “March Madness”, Thursday and Friday March 24th and 25th during Conex (Construction Expo) and then again Thursday April 14th for NAB (National Association of Broadcasters)I was able to work the...

As you should know from my past apologies, it is difficult to work the 12 hour shifts, talk to Elena and get enough sleep to write often here.
Most days off are filled with laundry, house hold chores, banking and other errands. Also when life becomes routine, you have trouble thinking about what to write.
Well here are some items of interest. First with Elena’s Visa situation and the National Visa Center requests....

Getting Elena here is now at the next and easier hurdle. Last week I received a package from the NVC (National Visa Center). They asked for payment for the Affidavit of Support processing. They now have an online way of paying. Once that was paid, I received and invoice for the Immigrant Visa Processing. I have send that. Now I am waiting for my brother to send my the Affidavit of Support form since I have not worked in...

I know many of you have given up on me. I have heard from Elena there are many of the expats from Davao reading my site, even though they never let me know by comments or telling me.
In addition, many would like to hear I have failed. Well life is not easy but I am surviving. It has been hard but rewarding too. I work many hours and when I can, I work six or seven days a week. It is also difficult only being able to see...

Last Christmas, Elena and I held our first Christmas party for the kids at Agdao Public Market. We are looking to do it again this year but bigger and better. These kids, from 8 to 12 years old, work at the market every weekend trying to earn some money to buy their lunches during the week when at school.
Last year we did this from our own pocket. We bought a shirt, candy and a little toy for 25 kids. First, we bought...